USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 65
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 65
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ever warm and enduring. As a judge, he is gifted in more than an or- dinary degree with the power of discerning truth and propriety, while his great experience enables him to weigh and solve legal questions with great dispatch and accuracy.
WILKINS, EDMUND TAYLOR, M. D. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Montgomery County, Tennessee, at the residence of his grandfather, Colonel Edmund Taylor, October 20, 1824, and is the son of Dr. Benjamin and Jane Taylor Wilkins. At the time of his birth his parents lived in Christian County, Kentucky, but, for the sake of convenience and sociability, he was taken across the line into Tennessee, to be born. Until he reached the age of ten years, the sub- ject of this sketch alternated between the two States named above, after which he resided in the States of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and at eighteen he entered the William and Mary College, where he received his collegiate education. In March, 1849, he sailed from New Orleans for Cali- fornia, taking passage on the schooner "St. Mary," Captain Chasteau. When off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, the little craft, one hundred and fifty tons burden, was overtaken by a terrible storm, in which she was so disabled, that it became necessary to seek safety by going into port to replenish supplies and repair the damages of the gale. Accordingly, the captain set sail for Baltimore, where she remained six weeks ere she was again pronounced ready to pursue her voyage around the Horn; Captain Chasm having been placed in command in lieu of Captain Chasteau. After a long and perilous voyage of more than nine months, she at last safely arrived in San Francisco, January 26, 1850. Among the persons on board were the late Thomas M. Logan, M. D., surgeon of the vessel; Henry Clay Duralde, grandson of Henry Clay ; Benjamin T. Davis, nephew of Jefferson Davis ; Edwin Good- all, of the firm of Goodall, Perkins & Co., and fifteen other passengers, making nineteen in all. Among the other passengers were William R. Cox, J. C. Smith, Thomas Fondry, P. Carrington, J. R. Valleau, M. C. Goodwin, Captain Daniel Butts, W. E. Dabney, and Dr. Ewin Shiel and wife. The others are not remembered. After a short sojourn in San Francisco, he proceeded up the Sacramento River, in a whale boat, and thence to Bidwells Bar, in Butte County, where he engaged for a short time in mining. From thence he proceeded in company with Drs. Richard Pegram and Edward Workman to Trinity River, which he attempted to turn from its course by means of a sand-bag dam; but after spending all the summer, and all of his means in this fruitless effort to force the river to give up its hidden treasures, he abandoned the mines forever. Returning to the valley in the autumn, he purchased a farm on the Feather River, ten miles above Marys- ville, in Yuba County, Drs. Richard Pegram, and John S. Griffin, then surgeon
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in the United States Army and now of Los Angeles, being co-partners. In 1853 he returned to his native State, and attended his first course of medical lectures at the Memphis Medical College, from which he graduated at the end of his second course in 1861. When Dr. Wilkins first came to California, he brought with him a faithful colored servant, known as Major Breeden, one of the most honest and faithful of men, who stuck to his young master amidst all the allurements and temptations of those more than tempting times. They went East together in 1853, and when they returned to Cali- fornia in 1854, Dr. Wilkins brought the entire family, consisting of thirteen persons, who were his slaves in Louisiana, but who were given their liberty and a tract of valuable land, three hundred and twenty acres, near his own, upon which he placed them, and on which some of them still reside. After receiving his medical diploma, Dr. Wilkins gave up farming, moved to Marysville in July, 1861, and from that time has paid undivided attention to the study and practice of his profession, and especially to that branch which relates to the dethronement of reason and the care and treatment of the insane. In February, 1870, the Legislature passed an Act authorizing the Governor to appoint a commissioner to visit the principal asylums for the insane in Europe and America, and it was made his duty to collect and compile all accessible and reliable information as to their man- agement and construction, and the different modes of treatment of the insane, the results of this investigation to be reported to the Governor in time to be laid before the next session of the Legislature. The great interest that Dr. Wilkins had manifested in behalf of the insane, and attention he was known to have paid to the subject, as well as his intimate and friendly rela- tions with Governor Haight, pointed him out as a proper person to fill that important mission, and the appointment was accordingly bestowed upon him. Immediately after receiving his commission, Dr. Wilkins commenced his investigations. First familiarizing himself with our own asylum, he proceeded at once to visit those in most of the States of the Union and of Canada. With the information obtained from visiting fifty asylums on this continent, and exchanging views with the most experienced, able and learned of the superintendents in his own country, he crossed the Atlantic well pre- pared to contrast and compare the asylums and the systems of management of these institutions in this country and those beyond the Atlantic. Having spent twenty-one months in visiting one hundred asylums in Great Britain and Ireland, France, Italy, Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Bohemia, Prussia, Bel- gium and Holland, in addition to half as many in America, and having attended meetings of the superintendents of asylums in France, England and the United States, he returned to California and made an elaborate and ex- haustive report to the Governor on the 2d day of December, 1871, ten thousand copies of which were published by order of the Legislature then convened.
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Among the first and most important results of this report was the passage of an Act by the Legislature to provide additional accommodations for the insane of this State. Dr. Wilkins was appointed by Governor Booth as one of the commissioners to select a site and location for the projected asylum, Dr. George A. Shurtleff, superintendent of the Stockton Asylum, and Judge C. H. Swift, of Sacramento, being the other two members of the Commis- sion. The location was made in Napa County, and the elegant structure known as the Napa State Asylum for the Insane now adorns the selected site, and is the best proof of the wisdom and taste displayed by the Com- mission in the choice made. Dr. Wilkins was also named in the bill, to- gether with Dr. Shurtleff and Governor Booth, to act as an Advisory Board to the Board of Directors in reference to the adoption of suitable plans for the new asylum. Having been thus intimately connected with and inter- ested in the establishment of this noble charity, and largely instrumental, through his report, in procuring the passage of the Act authorizing its con- struction, the Board of Trustees appointed for its management showed a just appreciation of his worth, and a proper regard for the best interests of the institution, by electing him, on the 16th of March, 1876, as the Resident Physician. At the expiration of his term of office he was re-elected for a second term of four years, and is now in charge of that institution. Its management needs no encomium from us. The perfect cleanliness of the entire establishment, the comfortable condition of the inmates, the order and general harmony that seems to exist among the officers, employés and attendants, and the good taste displayed in the improvement of the grounds, are evidences that speak for themselves, and are ever open to the inspection of the public. Dr. Wilkins was married in Marysville, in May, 1855, to Miss Matilda Pegram Brander, a native of Virginia, and by this union there were three children : Jane Taylor, who died at the age of five years ; Martha Pegram, and Benjamin Sidney. His wife died March 9, 1867. On the 24th of May, 1877, he married Miss Camilla Price, daughter of John R. Price, and niece of General Sterling Price, of Missouri, of which State she is a native. It would be doing injustice to Dr. Wilkins if we failed to state that he feels that he has been much more closely identified with the county of Yuba, where he resided for twenty-six years, than with Napa, where he has lived but six years. In Yuba he was known by everybody, was esteemed and respected by all, and in return he was greatly attached to her citizens ; and if his wishes had been consulted, we doubt not but he would have preferred to have been sketched among those in that county who had long been his inti- mate friends and associates. But in writing a history of the prominent men of California' by counties, we must take them where and when we find them. In conclusion, we will state that the maternal grandmother of Dr. Wilkins, Elizabeth Lewis, was a daughter of Lawrence Lewis, a nephew of
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General Washington, and Eleanor Parke Custis, the granddaughter of Martha Washington, being the only lineal descendant of Mrs. Washington with whom we have met in California.
WALSH, THOMAS. Was born in Ireland, August 15, 1822. In 1847 he came to America. He followed boating on the Hudson River until April, 1857, when he started via Panama for California, and arrived at San Francisco August 15th of the above year. After spending about eight years in the vicinity of St. Helena, he bought and settled on his present place, about one mile from Calistoga, where he has since resided. He mar- ried, June 4, 1852, Miss Margaret Hilliard, by whom he has five children : William P. F., Robert, Henry, Matilda and Josephine.
WATSON, JOHN. Was born in County Clare, Ireland, and resided there until 1852, when he came to America and settled in St. Louis, where he remained until 1853, when he turned his face westward, and crossed the plains to Salt Lake, where the winter was spent. In September, 1854, he arrived in California, and proceeded at once to Napa County, where he has since resided. He owns nine hundred acres of land, located near Napa Junction, and is engaged in farming and stock raising.
WEINBERGER, JOHN C. This gentleman, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Weissenburg, Bavaria, July 13, 1830, and is the son of Christian and Madaline Rebesberger Weinberger. He resided at his birthplace until 1848, during which time he was educated at the common school. At the age of fourteen he began the confectionery trade, which he followed until March, 1848. He then came to America, landing in New York the latter part of May. He remained there and worked at his trade until 1853, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked a few months only, when he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he began business upon his own capital. He remained there until 1865. He then purchased a farm, in connection with W. H. Ragan, and began the fruit and nursery business, which he followed until 1870. In 1869 he paid Cal- ifornia a visit, and was so pleased with the country that he returned to Indiana in 1870 and settled up his affairs, and came back to California to make it his permanent residence. He came to Napa Valley and located upon his present place, a short distance above St. Helena, and has since paid his entire attention to the manufacture of wine. He is an active member of the Viticultural Society of St. Helena, and has a fine cellar, a description of which will be found in its proper place. He was married January 27, 1860, to Miss Anna V. Von Dakkum, of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was born in Paris, France, November 5, 1838. By this union there is one daughter, Minnie, born December 27, 1861. Mrs. Weinberger died in 1866. He mar- ried, secondly, Miss Hannah E. Rabbe, a native of New Albany, Indiana,
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born October 7, 1840. They have children as follows: Hannah, born June 7, 1876; Mary, born July 4, 1878, and John C., born March 4, 1881.
WILLIAMS, JOHN W. Was born in Phillips, Franklin County, Maine, September 17, 1834, and at the age of ten his parents moved to a town called Letter E, where the subject of this sketch followed farming, and was educated at the common schools, and remained until 1864, during which time he was married. In the latter year he moved with his wife to Green County, Wisconsin, and engaged in the saw-mill and lumber business, in which he continued until he came to California, which occurred July 16, 1875. Proceeding direct to Napa Valley, he sojourned there for about one year, and then returned to Wisconsin. In the fall of 1876 he sold his in- terests in the saw mills, and in the following spring started again for Cali- fornia, arriving a second time in Napa County July 3d of the above year, his family following a few months later. In August of that year he pur- chased his present valuable property of thirty-two acres, located near Pine station, nearly all of which is in vineyard. Mr. Williams, although com- paratively a new settler in Napa Valley, has made many warm friends, and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him, He was united in marriage in Maine, October 9, 1864, to Miss Elvira Goodwin, a native of that State, and by this union they have three living children: Elvira, George H., and Samuel.
WHEELER, CHARLES. The subject of this sketch was born in Ver- gennes, Vermont, February 22, 1818. When he was five years old his parents, Horace and Laura Isham Wheeler, moved to St. Johns, Lower Canada. He there attended the public schools, and afterwards finished his education at Poultney, Vermont. At the age of fifteen he began life for himself, going to Laporte, Indiana, where he engaged with his uncle as clerk in the mercantile business, a position he held for ten years. He then re- turned to St. Johns, Lower Canada, and purchased his father's business, and engaged in the manufacture of leather, in which he remained until 1852, when he paid a visit to the Pacific Coast, remaining only a few months. On his return East he located at Oswego, New York, where he engaged in the grain and flour business, which he continued until July, 1868. Then, under contract to the California Pacific Railroad, Mr. Wheeler came to Cali- fornia, and was one of a company who built the first grain elevator on the Pacific Coast, at Vallejo. After experimenting for two years, the company came to the conclusion that it was not profitable or practicable to handle grain in bulk, consequently they disposed of their interests to Mr. Fried- lander, of San Francisco. In May, 1870, Mr. Wheeler visited Napa Valley, and, being highly pleased with its beauties, he purchased a tract of land of Mr. J. M. Thompson, at Bello station, two miles below St. Helena, where he
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erected his present home. Mr. Wheeler has been married twice, having six children by his first wife, five of whom are still living.
WELLER, HORACE I. Son of William and Sarah Hutchinson Weller, was born in Oswego County, New York, May 5, 1837, and remained in his birthplace until he was twenty-one years of age. In his native town he learned the tinner's trade. He then, May 5, 1858, started for the Golden State, coming via Panama, sailing from New York on board the " Moses Taylor" to Aspinwall, and on the Pacific side took passage on board the "Sonora," arriving in San Francisco in June, 1858. Remaining there but a short time he came to Napa Valley, and followed harvesting for one season, and then in the fall went to the mines in Yuba County, and engaged in that occupation for two years. He then returned to San Francisco and engaged in the wood and coal business, remaining in this about six months. He then, in August, 1861, returned East, and on his arrival in New York enlisted in the 110th Volunteer Infantry for three years, and served in the 19th Army Corps, and the Department of the Gulf under General Banks, and took part in all the engagements that his corps participated in. He served two years and eight months, and then, on account of sickness, was discharged, and returned home to New York, where he sojourned for about six months. He then moved to and settled in Hall County, Nebraska, and engaged in farming, and remained in that place for ten years. He then, in 1875, moved with his family to California, and settled in Calistoga, and en- gaged in farming two miles from town, following this for four years. We next find Mr. Weller in town engaged in the butcher business, in which he. continued for two years. He then sold out this business, and taking up a mining claim, located in Kings Cañon, he began to operate in mining, and is now engaged in opening up what is known as the California claim, with very flattering prospects. Mr. Weller was united in marriage in Hall County, Nebraska, to Mrs. Hannah B. Shaw, a native of Wisconsin, born January 30, 1842. By this union they have two children, one son and one daughter, Cora Ellen, born October 28, 1877, and George Frederick, born January 25, 1879.
WESCOTT, CHARLES ALBERT. The subject of this sketch was born in Chenango County, New York, March 19, 1828. At his birthplace he received a common school education, and worked on a farm until 1850. In February of that year he took passage from New York on the steamer " Philadelphia " to Panama, and from thence he took passage on the steamer "California " for San Francisco, arriving at the latter place in March, 1850. He immediately proceeded to the mines on the American River, and mined at Coloma until late in the fall of that year. He was then taken sick, and returned to San Francisco, where he took passage on
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the sailing vessel "Constitution," with the intention of returning home; but after a stormy passage of seventy-six days they ran into a port totally out of provisions. He remained there four weeks, when he boarded the same ship, and started for Peru, but finally arrived at Acapulco, where he remained some three months. He then took passage on board an English ship, and returned to San Francisco, arriving there in May, 1851. He immediately returned to Coloma, and bought into his former claim, and prosecuted mining until fall. He was again taken sick, and returned to San Francisco, and placed himself under a physician's care for a short time. He finally heard that two of his former partners were in Napa County en- gaged in hunting. He came here and also engaged in hunting wild game, which was sent to San Francisco. He continued in this business until 1857, when he settled on his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres, and has lived here since. Was twice married. By the first union he had two children, one of whom is still living: Clara, born June 16, 1851. There are no children by his second marriage.
WEAKS, WASHINGTON P. The subject of this sketch was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 25, 1819, and there received a common school education, and engaged in farming until his coming to this coast. In 1852, in company with his wife and family, driving ox-teams, Mr. Weaks started across the plains for the Golden State, arriving in Sierra County in August of the above year. After a short stay there he moved to Yuba County, locating in Marysville, and resided there until the fall of 1863. He then went to Mexico and engaged in cotton raising near Mazatlan for four years, and in the fall of 1867 he returned to San Francisco, and re- mained there until his coming to Napa County, which event occurred July 3, 1872. He then purchased his present property of twenty-six acres, two miles south of St. Helena, and is now engaged in viniculture and wine- making. Mr. Weaks was united in marriage in Ohio, December 19, 1839, to Miss Mary Macklin, a native of that State, and by this union they have one child, Louisa, now Mrs. A. J. Mason.
WRIGHT, REV. J. M. This very worthy old pioneer was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, October 29, 1809, and is the son of William and Rachel Sawyer Wright. He truly belongs to the pioneer corps of America, and sprang from pioneer stock. His grandfather, Peter Wright, was one of the first settlers of Boatland County, Virginia, locating in the great bend of the Jackson River, nearly one hundred years ago. Here he planted a field of corn, which was subsequently devoured by the buffaloes. At the close of the Revolutionary War, the father of the subject of this sketch moved into the then wilderness of Tennessee, where he lived for twenty years, and reared a family of thirteen children. In 1818 he, the
Waterfach
Lednuy Clark
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father, sold his Tennessee farm, and moved his family to Boone County, Missouri, where he died in his seventy-seventh year. Young Wright was in his ninth year when his father moved to Missouri, and here he received his education in the old log school-houses so common in that country in those days. At the early age of sixteen he felt called upon by the Master to enter the great moral vineyard of the world, and work for the salvation of men's souls. Nor did he wait until the eleventh hour, nor till he had spent the strength of his youth and manhood in the service of the world and self, but he came up to the front at the early dawn of his manhood's estate, giving all that he had or ever hoped to have to the great cause he was es- pousing. It was not long, however, until failing health bade him desist from his labors ; and for the purpose of regaining it, he made a trip to New Mexico in the capacity of teamster for some merchants who were trading at that early day in that country. He was then nineteen years of age, was gone six months, and returned completely recuperated. This train con- sisted of thirty-three wagons, all mule teams, and seventy-three men, with Riley Gregg as Captain. An escort of two hundred United States soldiers under Major Riley accompanied them to the Arkansas River, which was then the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. After leaving the Arkansas River, they had one or two fights with the Indians, in one of which Mr. Wright is honest enough to state that his hair stood so stiffly on end that it pushed his hat off. In the midst of the fight a good Baptist brother desired him to take a dram of whiskey; but Mr. Wright displayed his temperance principles by saying, "No; if I have to die, I want to die sober." He made three of these trips to New Mexico, and then remained in Missouri till the gold excitement in California. He then, in April, 1849, set out across the plains, and arrived at Sacramento on the last day of July of the same year. The journey in from the Sink of the Hum- boldt was made on foot, leading a pack-mule, on which was packed all his pos- sessions. Sacramento City was then a town of tents. The next day afte landing, he sold " Old Gray," the pack-mule, for fifty dollars, and purchased an outfit. He and Thomas O'Neal and Eli Pullin were " pards," as the old miners used to say. They set out on foot for the mines, and chanced to pick up a ride, and finally arrived at Hangtown, now Placerville, where they staked off their claim. Here he worked for six weeks with good suc- cess, and then bade an eternal farewell to mining. We here incorporate his own account of his experiences in the mines. "I look back at my associa- tions in the mines with proud and pleasant remembrance. I must say, that no more honorable, social, high-minded and intelligent class have I met with before or since. I soon gave out an appointment to preach, by posting notices on the trees. I preached my first sermon between two log cabins belonging to a Mr. Spence. He had provisions in one cabin, and whiskey
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in the other. My congregation was about fifteen or twenty men. They helped me to sing with a will, but with mischief in their eyes. They soon got right, however, and listened to my sermon like gentlemen. This was the first sermon ever preached in Hangtown. I discovered that Spence was selling whiskey at the same time ; hence, I removed to another place. I preached here every Sunday while I remained in the mines." At the end of the time mentioned above, he came to Sacramento, and has never seen the place since. He then proceeded to San Francisco, where he ex- pected to take passage on the steamer for Panama; but as all the tickets were sold, he secured a position as coal passer on the steamer "California," and thus secured a passage to Panama. While on his way down, he was called from the coal bunkers to the cabin by Captain Budd, for the purpose of preaching a sermon to the passengers. From Panama he crossed the Isthmus on foot to the Chagres River; thence down that stream in a canoe to the sea, where he took passage on the " Falcon " for New Orleans, going via Havana. He arrived at home on Christmas day, 1849, making the en- tire round trip in less than nine months. He remained in Missouri until 1854, when he again crossed the plains to California, bringing with him his family this time. They settled near Vacaville, Solano County, where a year was spent in stock raising. He then came to Napa County, and located at Yountville, where a year was spent. He then moved to his present place, three miles north of Calistoga, which consists of one hundred and twenty- two acres, where he is engaged in farming, fruit and grape growing. This old pioneer had always been so far in the vanguard of civilization that he never saw a railroad until the one terminating at Calistoga reached that place. He was in his sixty-second year when he took his first ride in a train of cars, which, to us of this day and age, who have rode on them ever since our infancy, seems almost incredible. In 1878 he published a pamphlet entitled, "The Giant Mystery Explained: The Bible Teaches Three Distinct Original Creations of the Human Family." It shows deep research, and, to say the least, is a novel idea. It is not our province to criticise or review it. Mr. Wright was married in Boone County, Missouri, to Miss Louisiana Shaw, daughter of John Shaw of Howard County in that State. She was born in 1811, and died in the fall of 1854. There are three living sons : John R., James C., and Paul J.
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